Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition to introduce national standards for the treatment of varices in children.

The British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition has published national guidance for the management of varices in children and are due to publish an updated version shortly.

The Royal Colleges work with NHS England advising on standards of treatment and are important stakeholders in the introduction of new or revised standards.